Hereford in demand

Developers' plans have been unveiled for a new retail and leisure quarter in Hereford

Three individual plans have been short listed by developers seeking to build the £200m retail and leisure quarter on the old livestock market site, and have gone on public display.

An exhibition of the proposals, one of which will kick-start the £900m regeneration of Hereford when work starts in three years, opened at the left bank as part of the on-going public consultation process by ESG Herefordshire, which is co-ordinating the project on behalf of Herefordshire Council and the regional government agency, Advantage West Midlands.

As well as making Hereford a top regional shopping destination to rival the likes of Worcester, Gloucester or Cheltenham, the 12 acre site will come alive in the evenings as people flock to a new multi-screen cinema and family entertainment centre with lively bars and restaurants. A top class hotel, with up to 120 bedrooms and a conference centre, is also envisaged, overcoming the city’s lack of hotel rooms, and bringing extra visitors to the city.

The as yet unnamed shopping and leisure quarter, when it finally opens in 2012, is expected to create up to 1,500 new jobs. More than 600 will be employed building it.

The three competing developers, Centros Miller, Modus and Stanhope, all currently involved in similar major redevelopment work around the country, are proposing to fill many of the gaps in shopping and leisure facilities that has led to Hereford losing trade to other towns. The development will also include 150-200 new homes, many affordable, and mostly built as apartments above the shops, with panoramic views over the city.

One of the trio, Stanhope, is proposing a modern version of a traditional Market Hall, built of stone and oak beams, with shopping on the ground floor and the first floor as a showcase for local arts and crafts. The same team proposes small studio/workshops to help new businesses get started. Centros Miller has come up with the novel idea of creating a climbing wall on the outside of a new multi-storey car park, and, if chosen, would build an “amphitheatre and stage” in a new Central Square for open air performances. Their multi-storey car park would include a ‘cycle hub’ with changing and shower facilities for cyclists riding into work, or to shop.

Modus, in their proposals, would also build starter business units. A cluster of restaurants and wine bars would be included to further boost the aim of providing more leisure facilities for young people, and developing a new evening economy for the city.

Centros Miller wants to make its multi-storey car park a bright feature to inject life into the dullness of Edgar Street. It would be built close to the football stadium, and one side of the ziggurat style park would be covered in natural greenery, and feature the sporty climbing wall, linked to a sports shop. Motorists passing on the A49 would be attracted by a ‘theatrical’ tower for people to exit the park, a perfect complement to The Courtyard on the other side of the street. Also, in their proposals, the defining building on the Edgar Street round-about corner is a hotel and conference centre, with undercroft car parking, entered via an eye-catching glass canopy. The cinema, in Centros Miller’s plan would be located between the hotel and the Market Tavern, facing New Market Street. Modus also consider these to be the best locations for a hotel and cinema.

Clive Richards, Chairman of ESG, said: “When the master plan was unveiled in the summer, 85 percent of those responding were in favour of the new retail and leisure quarter and I am sure that once the public has had a chance to examine these more detailed proposals they will be delighted and give any one of the schemes their vote of total confidence.

“All three developers have come up with a set of proposals which would achieve the aim of ESG to create an exciting and vibrant experience for shoppers and visitors, which is an extension of the historic core of the city and not a competitor.

“We set out to establish a seamless link between the new retail and leisure quarter, the new Urban Village, the Civic Quarter and more critically the city centre, and this can be achieved by any one of the three plans.

“I am confident we can attract the big names in retailing and leisure upon which the success of the project depends, but there will be opportunities, too, for independent local companies to be part of Hereford’s new future.”

Roger Phillips, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “I am delighted by the level of interest shown and in particular from companies who will support our local food producers and businesses.”

Nigel Hudson, Development Team Leader at Advantage West Midlands, said: “We are delighted by the quality of all three developers’ schemes and I believe it is a great reflection on the city and the opportunity ESG offers. The retail and leisure quarter will enhance Hereford’s standing as a very fine West Midlands city, boosting its image and reputation to visitors and residents alike. The proposals show great respect for the heritage of Hereford and a real opportunity to set the tone for the wider regeneration activity within the ESG area.”

A top name department store is seen as the main anchor of the new shopping destination, and whilst it is too early to expect any to sign up, the likes of House of Fraser and Debenhams have shown interest. A large scale supermarket is not planned, but a more specialist food hall, especially one which would promote Herefordshire food and drink is envisaged. Waitrose, well known for their support of local food producers, have indicated their interest in coming to Hereford. They already have stores in Monmouth and Malvern.

Local materials, such as sandstone and oak, will feature widely in the new buildings and the architects will ‘borrow’ ideas from Hereford’s historical past to create iconic structures representing the 21st century. As one developer put it: ‘the rich tones of the city’s historic core has set the tone of our design.’

Following public consultation on the merits of each of the three schemes, ESG are expected to announce the preferred developer within the first few months of the new year.

Breakdown of the proposals:
- Centros Miller
- 75,000sq ft department store
- 36,000sq ft food store
- 218,00sq ft in total of shop units
- 12,000sq ft café, restaurants, wine bars.
- 7 screen cinema
- Bowling alley and family entertainment
- 10,000sq ft health and fitness spa
- 120 bed hotel with conference facilities
- 150 housing units, 1,2 and 3 bed apartments and town houses
- 1,344 car parking spaces, of which 507 are underground

Modus
- 80,000sq ft department store
- 34,000sq ft food store
- 31,000sq ft multi-screen cinema
- 188,500sq ft retail space
- 22,100sq ft restaurants/bars
- 100 bed hotel
- 22,000sq ft office space
- 1,140 car parking spaces
- 72 bed apartments
- 932 bed apartments
- 73 bed houses

Stanhope
- 70,000sq ft department store
- 33,000sq ft food store
- 27,500sq ft multi-screen cinema
- 25,000sq ft restaurants/bars
- 28,000sq ft hotel
- 220,000sq ft retail units
- 2,500sq ft community space
- 6,400sq ft studios/workshops
- 174 housing units
- 94 affordable homes
- 1,250 car parking spaces